Indulgences

[Ave Maria Totus Tuus]

I've never really understood what an indulgence is. Could someone explain?

Thanks!

[cappie]

From the Catechism:

What is an indulgence?

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.

You might find the following site helpful:

[url="http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/indulgences.htm"]INDULGENCES[/url]

or perhaps this one:

[url="http://www.phatmass.com/directory/index.php/cat_id/548"]LINK[/url]